Birth date: Jun 6, 1920 Death date: May 20, 2015
Your kind words for mom are so appreciated, Alice. I, too, appreciated the care and friendliness that mom brought to her profession, having worked there in the summers throughout high school. Thank you so much for sharing your fond memories with us. Sincerely, Colleen Castle-McCarty, daughter
When I was 8 or 9 my family lived in Oakland on Harrington Ave near Foothill & 32nd. This was in 1950 or so. Mary Castle was our dentist and I think her practice was somewhere near Redwood Road in Castro Valley. Mom would take us on the Key System bus and it would take most of the day to go and return. I recall Dr Castle’s bright red hair and vivid and friendly personality. I never dreaded going to the dentist. I have always remembered her fondly and always sought a dentist who would measure up to my memory of her. I was sorry to read of her demise and I am writing this so her family will know how highly she was regarded by one of her earlier patients. Sincerely, Alice Sprague (formerly Alice Gentry)
Dr. Mary Margaret Castle’s Eulogy “A Woman of Great Faith & Laughter” by The Rev. Dr. Ariosto Coelho Dear Family and Friends of Dr. Mary Castle, Thank you for being here to be part of the Burial Service and to pray for Mary, simply because she believed in the Power of Prayer. I?ve prayed with and for Mary in the company of her fellow parishioners at St. John’s 1928 BCP Parish in Hayward since July 27, 1997, when she was instrumental in hiring me as the Rector and Priest. As we pray for her today, I want to remind all of us that she was indeed a woman of prayer. Whenever possible she participated in the Sunday Eucharist at St. John’s. Ellen Lee, a 93 year old parishioner, called me after hearing of the death of Mary and lamented that “Our Shining Star, is no more with us.” Truly, Mary is a Shining Star – A Great Woman of Faith! I define FAITH as breathing with attention and intention to the Holy Spirit, THE BREATH OF EVERLASTING LIFE. During her life time Mary has breathed over five hundred million breaths since her first breath at Indianapolis, IN on June 26, 1920. Over the 18 years that I’ve known and worshiped with Mary, I?ve heard her describe to me and share with me and the parishioners here present many of her breaths: ? as a child learning from her parents Charles Styles Murphy and Mary Margaret Rodgers: breaths of fun and freedom! ? graduating and serving as a Dental Physician and Surgeon: breaths of accomplishment and service! ? marriage to Dr. George Edmund Castle: breaths of love, romance and commitment! ? raising Patrick, Margaret and Colleen: Best Breaths of acceptance, surrender and happiness! ? retirement: breaths of further fun, freedom and laughter with the Parishioners at St. John’s and her 7 grand children Jessica, Solomon, Catherine, George, especially John, William and Elizabeth, and her 5 great grand children Tighe, Rory, Fiona, Joshua and Isaac. Consciously or not Mary breathed God?s Breath/Spirit seventeen thousand times every single day. She was attentive to God?s ways and her intentions were always the best. A Great Woman of Faith whose soul danced with laughter! Please allow me to conclude my eulogy by sharing a quote which I think Mary would share with us “Laughter is the sound of the soul dancing.” Fred Astaire Today, May Mary’s Faith and Laughter be reflected in our faces and in our lives. May she reach out to us in our sorrow and offer consolation. May her soul continue to dance with God’s Spirit of Laughter!
As a son-in-law I will always recall Mary Margaret as a woman of great tolerance and faith. She aways treated me with consideration and respect. She was the type of person who looked on the sunny side and found something to be thankful for in the most difficult situations. She loved her family and delighted in the visits of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be missed by all of us, but she will live in our hearts.
Thank you for the photo Rev. Coelho!
If anyone wants to share photos, I am composing a photo book and poster collage. You can share to this site or e-mail me directly at [email protected]. Thank you.
On my return to San Bruno, California, I received the sad news of the death of Dr. MARY MARGARET CASTLE [June 26, 1920 – May 20, 2015], one of my parishioners at St. John’s 1928 BCP Church in Hayward, CA. I’ve known her since July 1997 when as the Senior Warden she interviewed and hired me to be the Rector of the Church, where both she and I worshiped regularly till she passed away. A Believer in the Risen Lord she was a Leader among the Traditional Episcopalians and Anglican Catholics. The Little Flock at St. John’s in Hayward appreciates and admires her as a great Woman of Faith! We will miss her presence at the Eucharist and comments on her life of faith and commitment to Christ! May I request your prayers for the repose of her soul as well as for the grieving family. Fr. Ariosto Coelho, Rector & Priest at St. John’s Church in Hayward, CA http://www.spiritualdirection.org/Saint-John's-Church.htm
October 2006: Dr. Castle [6th from the Left] with The Little Flock of St. John’s assembled for the Eucharistic Celebration by Fr. Coelho in San Bruno, CA.
